Down 5-0, Rangers extend win streak

ARLINGTON (AP) - Comebacks and one-run victories are becoming the norm for the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers rallied from a five-run deficit and won their third consecutive one-run game on Sunday night, 6-5 over the Baltimore Orioles.

Texas has come back from at least a five-run deficit three times this season, and has won five of its last six one-run games.

"We've been in this position many times before," Rangers first baseman Rafael Palmeiro said. "We have confidence that we can come back. We've come back to score some runs and win some games, so we know we can score and we capitalized on it."

Pinch-hitter Frank Catalanotto's two-out RBI single in the eighth lifted the Rangers to the victory, extending their winning streak to a season-high six games.

Catalanotto is 10-for-14 this season with runners in scoring position and has 12 hits in his last 14 at bats.

"The ball is just finding holes for me," Catalanotto said. "I'm seeing the ball good, but I'm not crushing it. I'm trying to be aggressive and it's just getting through for me."

Overall, Texas pinch hitters are 8-for-11 with seven RBIs this season. As a pinch hitter, Catalanotto has two hits and a walk in four at-bats.

"He's unbelievable," said Rangers second baseman Luis Alicea, who had three hits. "The way he's swinging the bat, the only way they're getting him out is if he hits the ball right at somebody. Technically, he's a pleasure to watch. He's on every pitch."

Ruben Mateo drew a leadoff walk off Buddy Groom (2-2) and advanced to second on Mike Lamb's sacrifice. Catalanotto, hitting for Jason McDonald, singled to right off Mike Trombley to cap Texas' comeback from a 5-0 deficit.

Orioles manager Mike Hargrove decided to pitch to Catalanotto rather than walk him and go after Alicea, who was on deck. Sunday night was Alicea's fifth three-hit game of the season.

"Catalanotto just reached out and flicked the ball," Hargrove said. "It's a pick your poison situation. I would rather pitch to him than to Alicea, who I think is hitting the ball real well right now."

Baltimore has lost 15 of its last 17 and is 6-20 since April 22.

The Rangers are three games over .500 (23-20) for the first time this season and have won nine of their last 11. Texas swept a six-game homestand for the fourth time in team history and improves to 14-5 in May.

Texas has also won three straight one-run games.

Mike Venafro (1-0) pitched two-thirds of an inning for the victory and John Wetteland pitched the ninth for his 10th save.

"Offensively we've scored a lot of runs, the bullpen is coming around, and we've won a lot of one-run games," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "The bullpen has a lot to do with it. If you can close the door, it gives you a chance to win games."

Orioles starter Scott Erickson took a shutout into the sixth before Palmeiro's one-out solo homer made it 5-1. After Mateo's two-out single, Lamb hit a two-run homer to make it 5-3.

Texas knocked out Erickson in the seventh, loading the bases on two walks and a single. Ivan Rodriguez had a sacrifice fly off reliever Al Reyes, and Palmeiro tied it with an RBI groundout against Groom.

Erickson allowed five runs and six hits in six innings. He struck out two and walked six in his fourth start since having surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow March 3.

Baltimore scored three runs in the first off Darren Oliver. Mike Bordick opened the scoring with a one-out homer, his ninth. After singles by Delino DeShields and Albert Belle, Jeff Conine had an RBI single to right. McDonald overthrew third base for an error, allowing Belle to score.

Baltimore made it 4-0 in the fourth on Cal Ripken's double. Will Clark's fifth-inning single extended the Orioles' lead to 5-0 and chased Oliver.

Oliver allowed five runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked three.

Notes: All four of Erickson's starts this season have been on the road. ... Cal Ripken has 1,587 RBIs, two behind Nap Lajoie for 21st place on the career list. ... Bordick's single-season high for homers is 13. ... Texas' Mark Clark made his first relief appearance since 1997 with the New York Mets. Clark had made 73 straight starts. ... McDonald had two assists, giving him six for the season, the most among Texas outfielders.